I’m taking the day off to play golf and celebrate. Thanks for all the cards, voicemails and e-mails … the Kazoo serenade was outstanding! See you Friday!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQoE4bnpBCk
the value of laughter
Channeling Mr. Rogers …
It’s a beautiful day in the neighbourhood, a beautiful day for a neighbour, would you be mine, could you be mine … *channeling Mr. Rogers* … and there’s a lot of blog-hopping going on today, which always guarantees a great time!
For some reason, I’ve been humming the theme song from the Mr. Rogers show all day. But … hey … his show was all about friendship and that’s what I’m talking about with my friend Jess today. I must be having some sort of psychic connection with Fred … goodness knows I watched at least a zillion of his shows when our children were small!
I’m hanging out at the Happiness Project with the fabulous Jess Witkins, a young woman with the most brilliant smile and a sunny attitude to match. How could you not want to rush over to a blog with that handle?
As well as spreading happiness, Jess is working on her first novel and we are all following her progress with great anticipation. Write on, Jess!
She’s been telling me recently about her fabulous book club and we got talking about friendship and … well … click right here and hop on over to join our chat. You know I’m all about friendship! We would love to hear from you AND THERE’S A GIVEAWAY INVOLVED. See you there!
To make the day even better, best-selling author and dear friend, Steena Holmes
… (um, she’s a bit on the shy side … could her photo be any smaller? Steena, we have to talk!)
Anyway, the awesome and talented Steena is here to share her exciting news! Her latest novel, “Finding Emma” has just won the 2012 Indie Excellence Award in the Fiction category. It’s a gripping, emotional story which I was privileged to read and review just as it was published and it is most worthy of all the kudos being received.
Along with that, Steena is contributing a portion of the proceeds from sales to the Missing Children Society of Canada.
If you haven’t read it yet, here’s the Amazon link. BUT WE ARE ALSO GIVING AWAY AN E-COPY HERE! Woohoo!
Steena has an amazing blog tour in progress, hosted by Women On Writing, and you can find a list of all of her stops on her website as well as details about a Scavenger Hunt … seriously! Honestly, this woman is creative! She has written some terrific posts that truly hit home about parenting … and the subject of chocolate does come up from time to time as well!
Just leave a comment below this post and then click here to go to Steena’s blog to leave a comment after you read her excellent post about her thoughts on winning an award. We will employ our highly scientific method of putting all the names in a hat and having my DH pick out the winner!
Ahem, pardon me for nudging Steena just a little to the side of the spotlight for a second to share the news that The Bridge Club was a Finalist in the Women’s Issues category for the 2012 Indie Excellence Awards. It was fun to find both of us there when they sent out the list of Winners and Finalists. Yay, us!
I know you are going to enjoy getting to know these two fine friends of mine. In the author/blogger community we often pop around to each other’s sites. It’s the cyber equivalent of meeting up at the local coffee emporium, martini bar, or chocolateria. Where do you like to hang out with your friends?
Guest blogging? Gotta love it!
Who has more fun than bloggers? Okay … um, you can probably give me a list … but never mind. I can tell you one of the many ways we enjoy life here in the blogosphere and that’s by visiting back and forth – oceans and borders don’t deter us in any way – and hanging out on each other’s blog.
Today I’m particularly lucky to be in two places at once … just another talent we share!
I was thrilled to help out the awesome Myndi Shafer who is taking
a little time to enjoy the newest member of her family. #4 ! I’m exhausted just thinking about it but our Myndi is the best at taking it all in stride!
All of her blogging buddies and readers have been celebrating the blessed event and loving the sweet family photos Myndi has since posted. Take a minute to hop on over and pay a visit. Don’t forget to knit her some baby booties leave her your congratulations!
Sailing across the Atlantic to the UK, I’m excited to be Centre Stage on the 
fabulous blog of Nicky Wells, author of the Rock Star Romance Trilogy. Check out the first release, Sophie’s Turn.Things are always in party mode at Nicky’s and she makes every visiting author feel like a rock star. Come on over and see for yourself ... the bar will be open, munchies passed around and your favorite tunes on full blast! Nicky was just signed by Sapphire Star Publishing so celebrate with her as we’ve been doing since we heard the great news. Nicky is one of my fellow authors involved with the awesome author/reviewer website loveahappyending.com. If you live in the UK or will be visiting near Tetbury, Gloucestershire on June 12th this summer, be sure to check out the impressive literary event planned .
Have you been guest blogging or taking trips recently? Did you stay home for the holiday weekend or travel somewhere? You know I love to hear what you’ve been doing so scroll down and leave a comment if you have the time. Thanks!
Spend a few minutes in Aix-En-Provence…
If it’s Friday, it must be France …
Today I’m fantasizing about the beautiful, historical centre of Aix-En-Provence, since the main character in my new novel is hanging out there at the moment. I’m curious to see what’s going to play out there for her so can’t stay on the blog too long …
That’s one of the surprises of writing … you just never know for sure exactly what’s coming next!
I’ve been to Aix a few times and just want to say this. Even though it may not look terribly appealing from your first approach in the post-war urban areas, the heart of this town is a treasure trove of things architectural, cultural and … ah, oui … gastronomique! Plan your day and you won’t be disappointed.
Known for its water source since Roman times (Aquae Sextiae), Aix is also an important cultural, educational and political town. The capital of Provence, it also is home to the Faculties of Law and Letters of the University of Aix-Marseille.
Water is at the heart of the town and its history, channelled and distributed since antiquity and supplied by a wealth of underground springs. Fountains abound along beautiful, tree-lined Cours Mirabeau, where shops, restaurants and frequent visits by sidewalk artists make it easy to while away an afternoon. One of our favourite paintings was purchased from such an artist and I’m easily distracted by it right now as I sit across from it.
Paul Cezanne is the most famous son of Aix. Born there in 1839, he spent much of his life in Aix and the surrounding countryside, for a time working in a studio just off the Cours Mirabeau. A contemporary of Pissaro, Monet, and Renoir, few today are not familiar with his prolific work heralding his beloved Provence, which often featured Mont Sainte Victoire.
Today there are footsteps imprinted in the sidewalks of the town which you can follow to Cezanne’s favourite haunts. When we were there in 2006 a wonderful retrospective exhibition, “Cezanne En Provence” honouring the 100th anniversary of his passing, was being held. This is one of the posters displayed which I loved! It was hanging in the window of a wine shop.
I hope you’ve enjoyed a brief look at Aix. If you are planning to visit the area, it’s well worth a stop. Here’s the link to the wonderful Festival D’Aix-En-Provence in July. Order your tickets early for the renowned music festival as they tend to sell out quickly.
Two weeks ago I shared a poster in French and most of you e-mailed me with perfect translations. Bravo!
Forget your past, whether simple or complicated, and participate in your present so your future will be better than perfect. 
(As well as being an inspirational saying, it’s actually a poster used in teaching some of the tenses in French grammar.)
Gotta get back to work! I had so much more to share, my friends, particularly about a wonderful blogger I have gotten to know who lives in Aix. You’re going to want to know her too! I’ll save that for next week and see you here then. Bon weekend!
